Garment construction



Oct. 6, 1936. E. G. DANN GARMENT CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR l'rnesi Z b $6M ATTORNEYS Filed April 2, 1954 Oct. 6, 1936. E. e. DAMN 2,056,773

- GARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed April 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI Ernes f .Dann. BY Q ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1936 gusset? its 15 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a garment construction and more particularly to an undergarment designed for the central portion of the body.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro- 5 vide a garment construction which will be simple,

practical and thoroughly durable. Another object is'to provide a construction of the above character which may be manufactured with a minimum amount of inexpensive materials and a considerable saving in time and labor. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which, while being attractive in appearance, is extremely comfortable in use. Another object is to provide a construction of the 15 above character which will remain in position about the crotch portion of the body without appreciable relative movement with respect thereto, regardless of the position which the body assumes. Another object is to provide a con- 20 struction of the above character in which all tendency to bind about the crotch portion of the body is eliminated. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character in which any pressure on the crotch portion of the body 26 necessary to hold the garment in position is diverted to points where it may be withstood with ease and comfort. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which is light in weight and which fits snugly about the 30 body with no protruding portions. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements 35 and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and

the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown several of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 Ba front elevational View of the preferred embodiment of my garment in position on the body;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the garment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the garment when removed from the body;

50 Figure 4 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of my invention in position on the body;

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the garment shown in Figure 4 in position on the-body;

55 Figure 6 is a side elevational view of thegarment shown in Figure 4 in position on the body, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the garment shown in Figure 4 when removed from the body.

Similar reference characters refer to similar 5 parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it might here be pointed out that garments of this general 10 character are usually characterized by complexity of construction and the use of an undue amount of material. This not only increases the expense of manufacture but also addsto the labor necessarily involved in laundering or the like. Also these garments are usually made in such a manner that they will only fit one definite size of body and are incapable of adjustment to various sizes. Furthermore, these garments as .a rule are not pliable so that they may follow great discomfort by way of binding, chafing, and

the application of an undue amount of pressure at sensitive points on the body. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a garment construction in which the several difiiculties hereinabove mentioned as well as many others are successfully overcome.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a belt generally indicated at It. Preferably belt l0 comprises an inelastic portion ll extending across the abdominal region of the body, the remaining portion l2 thereof being elastic in character. Secured to the .front and rear sides of belt I0 is a shield member generally indicated at I3.

Thus front end ll of shield I3 is secured to the lower edge of belt l0 and ispreferably equal in width to the length of inelastic portion ll of belt l0. Shield l3 thence extends downwardly over the abdomen, through the crotch, upwardly over 5 the buttocks (Figure 2), and has its end l5 secured to the lower edge of portion l2 of belt l0. Accordingly, shield l3 comprises in its entirety a front portion IS, a crotch portion l1 and a rear portion l8. Preferably a part Ila of crotch portion I1 is elastic in character so that this part of the garment may be stretched to one side for toilet purposes.

Preferably the edges l9 and 20 of front portion l 6 taper inwardly toward the crotch portion, while ,edges 2| and 22 (Figures 2 and 3) extend outwardly from the crotch to the belt. More particularly, edges 2| and 22 of rear portion l8 extend abruptly in an outward direction from the crotch portion and thence upwardly substantially following a line passing through the hip point but spaced rearwardly therefrom. Thus the rear portion I8 is ofgreater width than the front portion l6 and covers a substantial portion of each buttocks. I have discovered that when rear portion I8 is so designed, the tendency thereof to creep upwardly over the buttocks and to bunch inwardly about the crotch portion is materially eliminated without the use of other staying means.

Howeven-as an additional provision against the tendency of rear portion I8 to ride up in' this manner, I prefer to provide a pair of elastic strips 23 and 24, strip 23 being connected to edges l3 and 2| respectively, while strip 24 is connected to edges 20 and 22 respectively. Strips 23 and 24 are substantially spaced from belt l0 and extend about the upper extremities of the legs. Accordingly they exert a tension against the opposite sides of rear portion l8 to hold this part in a laterally extended position, no matter what position the body may assume.

In order to provide for a maximum amount of comfort about the crotch portion of the body, I have discovered that the dimensions of certain portions of shield l3 are very important. To describe these comparative dimensions intelligently, it is necessary to consider three dimensions of the body and corresponding dimensions of the shield covering those portions of the body. Accordingly,

I have indicated in Figures land 2, distances A and B which are the lengths of lines passing from the opposite sides of the front portion of the belt, down along the opposite sides of the crotch, and thence upwardly to substantially corresponding points on the rear portion of the belt. Also there is indicated a distanceC which is the length of a line extending from the centerline of the belt, down through the center of the crotch, and up to a corresponding point on the rear portion of the belt.

The dimensions of shield l3 along the lines A and B have for their minimums the lengths of the corresponding distances on the body. However, the dimension of shield IS in the vicinity of the line C should be greater than the length of the corresponding distance on the body. In effect this makes the crotch portion ll of the shield slightly concave with respect to the crotch portion of the body as shownin Figure 1.

Accordingly, when in normal use on the'wearer,

the bottom edge of the belt l0 usually lies in a single horizontal plane. Thus tension in upward directions on shield I3 is greater in directions substantially along the lines A and B than it is along line C. Accordingly, pressure exerted on the crotch portion of the body by shield I3 is naturally concentrated at the opposite sides of the crotch, whereas the center of crotch portion ll of the shield exerts very little if .any pressure against the central portion of the crotch. In order to have shield l3 rest firmly against the body, and avoid relative movement with respect to the body, it is highly desirable to have certain parts thereof fit snugly against the body. Accordingly shield l3 rests firmly against the side portions of the crotch, exerting any necessary pressure thereagainst where it may be easily withstood, while the center line vicinity of crotch portion l'l exerts very little if any pressure against this portion of the crotch crotch portion of the ,tance substantially equal to the line C on either the body or the shield.v It will be understood, however, that these distances are not to be limited to the precise positions shown in Figures 1 and 2,

but indicate distances in the general vicinity of lines A, B and C. Also the term side-angular direction signifies a direction along the lines A or B, and the term center line direction indicates a direction substantially along the line C.

I prefer also to provide an elastic strip 25 preferably. secured to a brassiere 26 at a point slightlyto the rear of the arm pit. The lower end of strip 25 has attached thereto a button 21 adapted to fit within a suitable buttonhole 28 in belt I0. Preferably buttonhole 28 is located in the vicinity of the hipof the wearer, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. Another elastic strip (not shown), similar in construction and position to strip 25, is secured to theother side of brassiere 26 and connected in a like manner to the other side-of belt l0., Accordingly, these strips serve as an additional support for belt l0 and help to hold the belt on an even horizontal plane during movement of the body. Of course it is understood that belt l0, due'to exaggerated movements of the body, cannot remain on such a horizontal plane at all times. These strips also exert a tension upon belt III in side-angular directions. Accordingly, any tension which they exert uponvthe crotch portion ll of the shield I3 is concentrated at points on the opposite sides thereof and not at .the central portion thereof.

Referring now to Figure 4, in which there is shown another embodiment of my invention, a shield generally indicated at 29 fits about the body and the parts immediately adjacent thereto. Preferably, although not necessarily, shield 29 is shorter than shield l3 (Figures 1 and 2') and the edges 30 and 3| taper inwardly and outwardly as will be clear from Figures 4, 5 and 6. Accordingly, the narrower portion of shield 29 passes about the crotch portion of the body.

Secured to the opposite sides of the front end 32 of shield 23 are the opposite ends of a strip 33, preferably elastic in character. In a like manner, the opposite ends of an elastic strip 34 are secured to the opposite sides of the rear end 35 of shield 29. As best shown in Figure 7, strips 33 and 34 cross each other when in use so that the extremity of strip 34 passes about the upper abdominal region of the body while the extremity of strip 33 passes about theback and is preferably spaced slightly. above the normal waistline.

In order to hold strips 33 and 34 in this crossed relationship, thus to make dressing and undressing less complicated, I prefer to provide a pair of buckle parts 36 and 31 through which each strip passes. Buckle parts 36 and 31 comprise a,-

rectangular body portion (Figure 7) and a portion 31a connecting two of the sides thereof. Accord 'ingly, each strip is passed underneath the frame of the strips thus to increase or decrease the dis- 75 tance between each buckle and each end of the shield. In this manner the tension of the strips on the opposite ends of the shield may be varied as well as the position of the strips about the body.

It will now be seen that the entire supporting tension of the strips" and 34 on the shield 29 is in side-angular directions, while there is no direct pull on the shield in a center line direction. Accordingly the pressure resulting from the tension of the strips 33 and 34, which hold shield 29 firmly and comfortably against the body. is concentrated at the sides of the crotch, while the central crotch portion has very little if any pressure exerted thereagainst. Many of the advantages found in the preferred embodiment of my invention also exist in this embodiment there. of and it has the added advantage of being extremely simple in construction and consequently may be economically manufactured. Also, it may be placed on or removed from the body with extreme ease and washed with a minimum amount of inconvenience. This embodiment of my invention is especially well suited for wear underneath a foundation garment such as a girdle. Due to its compactness and lack of bulk, it may be worn in this manner with ease and a great deal of plished. It will be understood that I do not intend to limit this invention to undergarments or the like as many features thereof may be adequately embodied in other articles of apparel, as, for example, shorts, pajamas, or the like. Furthermore, the term "shield as used hereinbefore or hereinafter is to be interpreted in its broadest sense to include any covering body.

As many possible embodiments may be'made of the above invention and as many changes waistband, a front shield having its upper por-' tion connected to said waistband and adapted to extend down over a substantial portion of the abdomen of the wearer, the lower portion of said shield adjacentthe crotch of the wearer being convex, and a rear shield member having its upper edge connected to the rear side ofsaid waistband and shaped to extend down over a substantial portion of the buttocks of the wearer and connected to the convex portion of said front shield to form a crotch portion concave with respect to the crotch of the wearer to create a fullness along the central portion of the garment whereby the supporting stresses of the garment run through the shields in directions from the sides of the crotch portion to points on said waistband in the general vicinity of the hips, said directions being spaced inwardly from the sides of said shields so that binding is eliminated in all portions of the garment.

ERNEST G. DANN. 

